UMass football program signs 11 high school football players

The Republican file photoUMass football coach Kevin Morris says he wants his recruiting class "to compete right away" for the Minutemen. AMHERST – University of Massachusetts football coach Kevin Morris is convinced his program took several steps forward Wednesday.
UMass announced the signing of 11 incoming freshmen, who will join six transfers on the 2010 Minutemen.
Noteworthy among the freshmen is the lone quarterback. Brandon Hill of Audubon, N.J., is expected to compete immediately for the starting job with Kyle Havens, who will be a senior next year.
Havens won the job after transferring from junior college in 2009, but was plagued by inconsistency.
As a senior, Hill completed 63 percent of his passes, good for 1,739 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was named New Jersey’s No. 2 pro-style quarterback prospect by Rivals.com.
Morris said Hill’s ability to pick up the UMass system would affect his progress, but the coach said that was true with all the freshmen.
“We want them all to compete right away,” Morris said.
“Brandon is 6-foot-5, he’s a great kid, and he can throw the ball.”
The other freshmen include linebackers Stanley Andre of Reading and Matt Campbell of Attleboro, wide receivers Dominic Wooten of Norwell and Shawn Campbell of Woodstock, Conn., running back Mike Delaney of Foxborough, defensive lineman Matt Heilig of Harrisburg, Pa., offensive lineman Ryan Young of Wayne, N.J., and defensive backs Kirkland Nelms of Spotsylvania, Va., Edward Saint-Vil of Mirmar, Fla., and Antoine Tharp of North Lauderdale, Fla.
Wooten is 6-5 and 220 pounds. Campbell is 6-2 and 205.
Their signings reflect Morris’ interest in having wide receivers with good size.
He said Wooten could play tight end.
Almost all of the recruits have the skill to play multiple positions, Morris said.
Morris said the availability of the six transfers allowed UMass to fill some needs with polished collegians, not just high school seniors.
This was especially true on the lines, where UMass welcomed offensive linemen Greg Niland from Northeastern, Anthony Dima from Hofstra and defensive lineman Galen Clemons from Central Michigan.
“With the larger sized kids, the development usually takes longer,” Morris said.
“Who would you rather put out there, an 18-year-old or one who is 22 and has been in the weight room?”
Running back John Griffin, a 1,000-yard rusher in 2009, and linebacker Chad Hunte also transferred from Northeastern.
Wide receiver Anthony Nelson switched from Hofstra.
All six transfers are eligible immediately. In five cases, that is because their former schools dropped football.
Clemons is eligible because he is dropping down from a Football Bowl Subdivision program (commonly called Division I-A) to a Football Championship Subdivision (I-AA) team.
Morris was pleased that UMass added seven players from Massachusetts – transfers Griffin, Hunte and Niland, and four incoming freshmen.
“Without the transfers, we could have had a couple more. But we got the in-state kids we wanted,” he said.